A truck driver’s inability to maintain a straight path, or to regain control of the truck.A truck struggling to slow down, which is common among trucks with heavier loads and.Cargo bulging or leaning over the sides of the truck, or stacked over the top of the truck.A lack of bouncing, which is indicative that the suspension springs on the truck’s wheels are compressed from overloading.There are, however, a few signs that could indicate that a truck’s cargo exceeds federal or state weight limit restrictions, such as: It’s not always possible to tell when a commercial vehicle is carrying more than it is designed to transport. Doing so is extremely dangerous for anyone else on the road, making it especially important for motorists to keep an eye out for the telltale signs of an overloaded truck.

Unfortunately, despite strict rules on weight limits, many companies routinely overload their vehicles in an effort to transport more products in a single trip. This does not mean, however, that there are no limits to how much these trucks can carry. Everyone on the road is much safer when trucks carry loads within their weight limits.Tampa Auto Accident Lawyers > Blog > Truck Accident > The Risks Of Overloading A Commercial Vehicle The Risks Of Overloading A Commercial VehicleĬommercial vehicles are designed to carry a lot of cargo over great distances. However, the risks far outweigh the benefits. Overloaded trucks might seem like a way to move a bit more cargo each trip. That’s why it’s important to make sure your cargo is loaded safely and balanced. This unbalanced load will also increase the chance of rollovers during left turns. Improper loading can cause one side of your truck to be heavier than another, causing issues for you when driving.įor example, a truck with too much weight on the left side will struggle to turn right. In fact, sometimes you can have an overloaded truck due to improper loading. Your truck doesn’t have to be over its weight limit to be overloaded. That’s why it’s much safer to drive with a properly loaded truck. These all can increase the risk of accidents to both you and other drivers. So is losing control over your truck, especially when going downhill. Rollovers and jackknifing are also more common on overloaded trucks. The added weight makes your truck less responsive and more likely to have the heavier trailer swing out of control.

These vehicles also are much harder to handle than usual. Harder handlingĭamaged components are not the only risk that comes with an overloaded truck. Exceeding this capacity could cause your truck components to wear down and break. However, each truck should have a sticker letting you know what its capacity is. These include it’s braking system, drive train, axles, and wheels just to name a few. Your truck’s total capacity is determined by a number of things. That’s why it’s important to know how much your truck can handle to avoid having an overloaded truck. However, that doesn’t mean that all trucks can carry that weight. It’s important to be aware of the risks that come with overloading and improperly loading your truck… Overloaded Truck: Understanding the Issue Load limitsįederal law caps the weight limit for commercial vehicles at 80,000 pounds. An overloaded truck can make tractor trailer driving even more dangerous. This becomes especially apparent if they go over their normal load limits. On their own, tractor trailers can be difficult to handle.

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